Rear-axle spring-bar connection device



' a. M.v RooF.

RAHAXLE SPRING BAR CONNECTION DEVICE. @inculati min um; 3, w20.

Patented June' i4, 192 L UNITED sTATEs PTENT OFFICE.

ROBERT in. ni'oo'ryor ANDERSON, INDrANm nssIG'N'on'To LAUREL moronsConronATIoN, or ANDERsoN, INDIANA. v

REAR--AVXLElSPRING-BAR CONNECTION DEVICE.

y l Application iled June 3,

.To allfwh'oml tfmyfcofncem' i Be it known that I, ROBERT M. Boone'citizenoi the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county ofMadison and-State of Indiana, have invented certain' new and usefulImprovements in Rear-.Axle Spring- Bar Connection Devices, of which the(following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in :spring-bar connections formotorcars In construction as practised in well know-n motor cars ofstandard type ot the lighter class; a detail of well known structure,and which yconstitutes a connection between the rear axle'housing :andthe rear spring member -of the'frame, consists of a 4shackle linkarrangement loosely connected to the rear axle housing and which has-connection with the end of the spring at a `loca-tion above the `rearaxle housing.

The object of this invention :is to provide an improved connectiondevice Vfor the said rear spring capable of being secured to andsupported by lthe standard rear axle housing and the radius or brace rodof the car frame, whereby the said spring member while being securelyretained, is so retained at a position substantially lower than that ofthe axle housing.

Such a connecting arrangement is desirable for the reason that by itsuse, the points of suspension of the spring are lowered, and the body ofthe car and its parts are correspondingly lowered. Such lowered statusof the car body renders more safe the operation of the car at higherspeeds, and minimizes the stress and strain imparted to the rear axlehousing of the car.

The purposes of the invention are accomplished by the new construction,combination and arrangement of parts shown in the annexed drawing,described in the following specification, and defined in the appendedclaims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improvedrear spring-bar connection device, and in which view the relativepositions of the axle housing and the radius rod are shown. The severalparts of my invention are identified by suitable characters of referenceapplied thereto.

The present invention consists of a divided block, the matched portionsof which are capable of being secured together and in Specification ofiettrsla'tent. Patented June 14, 1921,

clamping `contact with E.the rear axle housing, there being a barextended from said Yblock and fhavingits upturned end adapted to besupported by the Aradius rod, and a shackle connection on said bar, allof said parts-beings() combined 4and anranged, that there :1sconstituted a connection between the axle-shaft housing 11,the radiusYrod 14 and 4the end foi the spring 12, whereby the spring 1s supported-at a point on a plane below the plane of theaxle shaft housing. Theradius rod lloccupiesthe usual posit-ion with 4reference the axlehousing, as shown in thc drawing, its forkedend being secured to theyaxle housing by the bolts 15.

The yaforesaid block is '-madc of complementa-l sections K2 and K2preferably of manganese ibrenzeyor it may be made of any nother suitable.metal of proper strength. .Through 'the .matched upper and lower earsvsalare passed the `bolts L and L, which bolts, when` tightened, clamp'the two body pieces tenaciously tothe rear axle housing. A sup--pdrtbar M- 1nade of machine 'steel-of proper dia-meter has its rear endsecured in a boss K4 that is formed integrally on the lower ortion ofthe said block. Loose on this bar l is a shackle clevis O of usualconstruction and function. The end of the spring 12 is supported by atransverse bolt or pin 13 of said clevis. The outer portion of thesupport bar M is turned upwardly thence has a hook end M1 that engagesover the top side of the radius rod and is supported thereby. It isobvious that the connection device just described is capable of beingeasily installed in position without any modification whatever of theseveral standard parts, and in such position it is sustained ru'ggedlyand immovably.

The utility of this connecting device or the spring suspension isapparent. The device having been installed at position and thespring-bar connection having been made by the shackle bolt 13, thepoints of the spring suspension will have been substantially lowered,thus affording advantages incident to the lowering of the center ofgravity of the car structure proper. One of the important advantages isthat such lowering of the car body and frame, permits the drive shaft ofthe car to assume a position parallel to the center line of the motorshaft, the result being a lessening of friction in the universal jointand in the bear- .at points above the ings of the drive shaft. Carsequipped with this invention are capable ofbelng operated safely at aspeed much greater than would be the case were the spring ends connectedtop of the rear axle thereof, without in the least departing from thenature and spirit of the invention, or the sacrificing of any of itsadvanta es.

Vhat I claim as my invention, an desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-L f I 1 l. A spring-support connection device, consisting of adivided block adapted to be clamped on the axle shaft.. housing, asupport bar extending from said block and adapted to be connected to theradius frod, a shackle clevis carried loosely on the Vsupport bar. Y 2.A spring-bar connection device, consisting of a divided block the halfsections of which are adapted to be clamped on the axleshaft, means todraw the' half sections `of. said block toward each other and to retainsame at tenacious engagement with the `vaxle shaft housing, and a'support bar latsisting of a ldivided block the erally extended fromsaid block, and adapted to be connected to the radius rod.,k

. 3. A spring-,bar connection half sections of which are adapted to beclamped on the axle shaft, means to draw the half sections of said blocktoward each other and to secure same at tenacious engagement with theaxle shaft housing, a support bar 'secured to the lower portion of theblock and radius rod, and a shackle clevis carried loosely von saidvsupport, bar. Y H Y f H' i 4. In combination with the axle shafthousing, and the radius rod, a divided block adapted to be clampedsecurely to said axle shaft housing, a support bar having its rear Yendsecuredv to the lower portion of said block, and its forward portionturned upwardly and having a hook end to enga-ge the top side of theradius rod, and a'shackle clevis carried looselyon the support bar andadapted to support the endv of the car spring, substantially asdescribed.

5. A support device for the car springs,

consisting of a block detachably secured to .the rear axle housing, alsupport bar-extended from the block and having a hook end to makeconnection withthe radius rod, a shackle connection carried loose on thesupport bar, and a removable support pin in the clevis that is adaptedtoretain the end of the car spring. y

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT M. ROOF.

device, con-

